WASHINGTON - As thousands of young people prepare to march Friday to denounce the 40-year-old Roe. V. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion, prospects for their cause aren't particularly strong. President Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights, has been re-elected and clearly won't be naming Supreme Court justices likely to vote to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling.

Sen. David Vitter talked Friday to anti-abortion students in Washington. Alex Brandon, The Associated Press archive

"The struggle isn't likely to end tomorrow," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La Thursday before speaking to a group of about 300 New Orleans area young people in town for Friday's march. "But I remain hopeful. What inspires me and keeps me optimistic are these young people here in Washington who are so committed to the cause."

While a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll this week found that 70 percent of Americans believe that the Supreme Court shouldn't overturn Roe. V. Wade, advocates are hopeful because many Americans support limits, particularly on late-term abortions. Thirty states, including Louisiana, enacted 135 laws restricting abortion in 2011 and 2012, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank specializing in reproductive issues.

In Louisiana, the Legislature approved, and Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law, measures that require those seeking an abortion to be shown an ultrasound of the fetus, and to be offered the chance to listen to the heartbeat.

"We're at a stand still on the federal level, though hopeful we can get some common sense laws enacted, and looking to continue to make progress on the state level," said Benjamin Clapper, executive director of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation.

Some of the New Orleans area young people who plan to brave the snow and sub-freezing temperatures predicted for Friday's "Pro Life" march are enthusiastic about their cause, but realistic.

"As Sen. Vitter said it's not so much about changing the law, it's about changing people's hearts and minds," said Brooke Marcello, 17, a senior at Dominican High School. "When you see so many young people here devoted to this cause it leaves you with a lot of hope. There are a lot of us out there."

Adds Crisco Gonzales, 18, a senior at Brother Martin High School: "I feel confident that though this might be the 40th year since Roe. V. Wade, that we're going to get it overturned sometime, maybe not in my lifetime, but it will get done."

Gonzales said he "chose" the issue of abortion to focus his energies because compared to, for instance, war, the impact of abortion is far deadlier, pointing to the 55 million abortions the National Right to Life committee says have been performed since the 1973 Supreme Court ruling.

In her response to the 40th anniversary of Roe. V. Wade, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said it's ironic that anti-abortion activists continue to seek to bar federal funding for her organization when its health care services, including access to contraception, help prevent about 486,000 unintended pregnancies and 204,000 abortions every year.

Julie Mickelberry, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, said that decisions abut whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy, or raise a child should be left to a woman, her family, and her faith, with the counsel of her doctor.

"Unfortunately, for decades politicians in Louisiana have systemically created dangerous barriers for women needing access to safe and legal abortion," Mickelberry said. "A woman should have accurate information about all her options. Information should support a woman, help her make a decision for herself, and enable her to take care of her health and well-being."

"Mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling included in the so-called "Woman's Right to Know" law, and forced viewing of ultrasound images all interfere in a woman's personal medical decisions. Our state's ban on abortion at 20 weeks gestation completely ignores the difficult circumstances some women and their families experience during a pregnancy."